Cultural Heritage and Promotion Women Political Engagement

SVF’s Empowerment Women Social and Political Participation Program invited Mr. Mohsen Abu Ramdan, Head of PNGO, and Mrs. Azhar Abu Sha’ban, Women Studies Society coordinator, to talk in a live radio show on Aug 1st 2012, to discuss ‘ Cultural Heritage and Promotion Women Political Engagement’.

Abu Ramadan confirmed on the important role of socialization in establishing and consolidating good values ​​and concepts of humanity. He explained that our culture lacks of respecting women rights and give men the power to manage all social-political process.

Abu Shaban explained that Palestinian women need to take prominent role in political and social participation. Women proved themselves in the society and contributed greatly for several years of struggle and liberation. However, she is still need to attain her rights. Women could not get her rights because of marginalization and discrimination policy and participation in decision-making process. She discussed also the crucial role played by NGOs in advocating and raising awareness of marginalized and disadvantaged groups to practice their rights in order to assure active participation and pluralism in society.

Abu Ramadan emphasized on the necessity to promote political concepts of partnership and pluralism to encourage women and men together in decision-making process. He went beyond this saying “there is a desperate need to develop educational values and concepts of democracy, citizenship and partnership within society, culture of peace, rule of law, respect public freedoms and other opinions and equality through promoting democracy and citizenship concepts.

Abu Sha’ban expressed the importance of the media outlets in influencing society positively and those interested in social issues and public. Media should raise women issues, public and private discussion on laws and regulations that restrict, discriminate and marginalize women engagement in the political and social arena, she said.

Abu Ramadan said that there is general acceptance in some developing societies to engage women’s social and political work in spite of the customs, traditions, values ​​ and prevailing cultural heritage which a positive sign towards changing the negative stereotype towards women.

At the end of the radio show, both speakers called officials and decision-makers to activate the laws and legislations related to women issues in order to enhance their role socially and politically